Combined blank book and file.



F. W. SBA.

COMBINED BLANK BOOK AND FILE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

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entrain FREDERIC W. SEA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COMBINED BLANK BOOK AND FILE.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial No. 569,056.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC W. SEA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Blank Books and Files, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to an article which is adapted to be used as a temporary file for miscellaneous catalogues, letters, etc, and is of a size and form so that it can be left upon the desk of the user without taking up undue space.

The objects of the present invention are, to provide a device of the character set forth which is cheap and simple of manufacture, and which is capable of being utilized as a file or as a book, the leaves being so arranged with respect to one another that their edges will be staggered, thus presenting a surface for marginal notations.

A further object of the invention is to so position the leaves upon the main backing strip that they can be folded to lie in a reverse direction with respect to the backing strip, thus doubling the capacity of the book, both as regards .the writing surface when it is used as a book and as regards the marginal index surface when it is used as a file.

Further objects of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the parts hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of the file with the flap or cover thrown back; Fig. 2, a view showing the leaves extending at right angles with respect to the backing strip, and showing 'more clearly the manner of connecting the leaves to the backing strip; Fig. 3, a view showing the leaves lying in parallel relation to the backing strip; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the leaves folded to lie in the opposite direct-ion and Fig. .5 a View of the file in closedcondition.

. ing in effect a cover. The means shown for securing the flap to the body portion'com prises a button 7, adapted to be inserted into a clasp 8, although obviously there are numerous well known ways of securing this cover in place.

I Attached to the backing strip 5 are a plurality of leaves 9, each of equal size and each having a portion 10 thereof secured to the backing strip. The leaves are secured to the strip at points equidistant along the surface of the strip; and-since the leaves are all of the same size it necessarily follows that when they are folded to lie parallel with the backing strip, the free ends 11 thereof will terminate at different points along the backing strip, so that a space 12 is provided on each leaf, which is adapted to receive any marginal notations desired.

' Since the leaves are-each spaced away from one another a predetermined distance, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, it follows that the leaves will cooperate to form pockets into which matter of suitable'nature can be inserted, as, for instance, various papers, pamphlets, etc. This, of course, would be impossible if the leaves were secured in the manner ordinarily employed in making books, as the leaves would then be inclose relation to one another at their secured ends, and the interposition of matter therebetween rendered impracticable. But where, as in the present invention, there is a certain amount of play and space between the leaves,

the papers, pamphlets, etc., can be readily inserted therebetween without disfiguring or distorting the device. Moreover, with the leaves positioned as shown in the present structure, they will all lie substantially flat when folded into position parallel with the backing strip. This is because of the fact that when the leaves are folded into position to lie parallel with the backing strip, the joined edges are not in so close relation to one another as to cause a swelling of the material at the point of juncture, which places the leaf upon an angle.

In the present construction, with the leaves joined to the backing strip in the manner shown, no crowding of the secured ends will be efiected when the leaves are folded, and hence' they will remain in a substantially flat position when folded into parallel position with the backing strip. This is an important point in blank books, and

especially those used by business and pro-' book; and, moreover, the feature of the surfaces presented for marginal notations is of an advantage to the user, in that he is enabled to index his notes as they are taken.

When used for the'purposes of a file, the space intermediatethe leaves will serve to form pockets adapted to readily receive the matter desired, and the book will be of a size and shape that it'can be placed on the desk of the user, without taking up undue space or otherwise inconveniencing him. The file is more especially designed for the purpose of keeping papers, pamphlets and small catalogues whichfirms from time to time send-out, and the file itself may be a catalogue sent out by the business house, and then, when the auxiliary circulars and pamphlets are issued, the file of the present Invention will readily accommodate these,

permit of notations to be and the marginal surfaces of the leaves will I placed thereon, designatlng the particular circular or pamphlet contained within the leaves.

For the purpose of clearness of illustration, the drawings show the leaves lying at a slight angle with respect to the backing strip, but it is understood that in practice these leaves will lie parallel with said backing strip, thus presenting a flat surface.

I claim: A combined-file I book, consisting of a flexible acking strip formed of a single piece of material, a. series of leaves of equal s1ze secured to the backing strip, said leaves being secured at intervals,

along the backing strip to provide marginal notation edges, the juncture of each leaf and flat-o ening 'blank v with the backing strip marking a positive line of fold in each leaf, each'of the leaves when folded to lie in'either direction upon the backing strip,-havin its entire surface contacting the surface 0 the leaf lying immediately below, the spacing of the leaves leaves and serve as a cover for the book, substantially as described.

FREDERIC SEA. Witnesses:

WM. P. BOND, MARY It. F zos'r. 

